I'm overseeing the construction of a new IT Support Lab at a large public agency and I'm looking for advice on must-have equipment or clever additions. The lab will primarily handle triage and repair of user hardware, imaging and deployment, one-on-one user support, secure storage for new and returned equipment, inventory management, and occasional walk-up support. I already have a good starting list that includes tech benches, ESD protection, barcode scanners, and imaging tools, but I'm sure there's more to consider. What are some items or features in your IT lab that have made your work easier? Any valuable lessons learned or things you wish you had? Thanks for any tips or even photos of your setups!
14 Answers
Ensure your lab has good physical security. You wouldn't want items walking off, especially if techs are working alone.
Always have a good stock of spare items. There’s nothing worse than needing a cable and having to wait for a purchase order.
Don’t forget plenty of strong coffee to keep everyone energized!
Build your lab to closely resemble your production environment. This will make testing fixes so much smoother without the fear of impacting production.
You know, I have a 55" TV, a MAME arcade, and a 4K video pinball machine in my IT lab. It really helps boost morale during those high-stress moments. Don't underestimate the power of a little fun to ease the pressure!
Switch to Rackstuds instead of Cagenuts and screws if you're using racks. It'll make your setup a lot easier!
Just looked them up—definitely going to get some!
Make sure to install as many power outlets as possible. We often ran out of power plugs in our old IT lab, which was a huge hassle.
Consider a workbench equipped with ethernet and plenty of power outlets, plus multiple monitors and effective cable management. It's a game changer! Also, gather spare parts and supplies like ESD bags and non-lead solder.
If you're supporting desktops, a KVM switch can really optimize your workspace. Also, a good label maker is invaluable—it can automatically print labels for tickets when they're created or closed.
Stock up on USB flash drives; they always come in handy. Also, consider getting a drive dock if that’s not already on your list.
Think about getting a thermal imaging camera, multimeter, or even a dedicated isolated network connection. This kind of stuff is pretty crucial for dealing with infected machines without risking the production network.
Set up an Active Directory test environment with old servers to practice GPO push-outs and configurations without affecting your production network. It's a great way to give junior staff real learning experiences!
Rebuilding domains from scratch is a fantastic teaching moment—I recommend it!
I'd recommend adding large wall-mounted storage with labelled bins. It's super useful for organizing supplies efficiently and makes access much easier.
Invest in proper labels and naming conventions, especially for post-rollout documentation. It saves a lot of time later!
We had a margarita machine for morale boosts—definitely one way to keep things light!